Gus Meins (March 6, 1893 – August 1, 1940), born Gustave Peter Ludwig Luley, was an American

film director A film director controls a film's artistic and dramatic aspects and visualizes the screenplay (or script) while guiding the film crew and actors in the fulfilment of that vision. The director has a key role in choosing the cast members, ...

. He was born in

Frankfurt Frankfurt, officially Frankfurt am Main (; Hessian: , " Frank ford on the Main"), is the most populous city in the German state of Hesse. Its 791,000 inhabitants as of 2022 make it the fifth-most populous city in Germany. Located on its ...

Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG),, is a country in Central Europe. It is the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany lies between the Baltic and North Sea to the north and the Alps to the sou ...

Career

Meins started out in the 'teens as a cartoonist for the Los Angeles Evening Herald before becoming a comedy writer for Fox in 1919. In the 1920s, Meins directed a number of silent

short subject A short film is any motion picture that is short enough in running time not to be considered a feature film. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences defines a short film as "an original motion picture that has a running time of 40 minutes ...

s film series for

Universal Pictures Universal Pictures (legally Universal City Studios LLC, also known as Universal Studios, or simply Universal; common metonym: Uni, and formerly named Universal Film Manufacturing Company and Universal-International Pictures Inc.) is an Americ ...

, including the '' Buster Brown'' comedies. He is best known as senior director of

Hal Roach Harry Eugene "Hal" Roach Sr.Randy Skretvedt, Skretvedt, Randy (2016), ''Laurel and Hardy: The Magic Behind the Movies'', Bonaventure Press. p.608. (January 14, 1892 – November 2, 1992) was an American film and television producer, director, a ...

's ''

Our Gang ''Our Gang'' (also known as ''The Little Rascals'' or ''Hal Roach's Rascals'') is an American series of comedy short films chronicling a group of poor neighborhood children and their adventures. Created by film producer Hal Roach, also the ...

'' comedies from 1934 to 1936, and also as director of

Laurel and Hardy Laurel and Hardy were a British-American comedy duo act during the early Classical Hollywood era of American cinema, consisting of Englishman Stan Laurel (1890–1965) and American Oliver Hardy (1892–1957). Starting their career as a duo ...

's '' Babes in Toyland'' (1934). His assistant director was a young Gordon Douglas, who became senior director in 1936 when Meins left ''Our Gang'' for other directing jobs at Roach. Meins left Roach in 1937 over creative differences.

Death

In the summer of 1940, Meins faced prosecution of "morals charges", having been accused of sex offenses against six youths. The director swore his innocence but stated that the case would ruin his career, regardless of the outcome. He left home on the night of Thursday, August 1 telling his son, Douglas: "You probably won't see me again." Meins was found dead in his car on August 4, reportedly having committed suicide by inhaling

carbon monoxide Carbon monoxide ( chemical formula CO) is a colorless, poisonous, odorless, tasteless, flammable gas that is slightly less dense than air. Carbon monoxide consists of one carbon atom and one oxygen atom connected by a triple bond. It is the si ...

days earlier. He was interred at Grand View Memorial Park Cemetery in

Glendale, California Glendale is a city in the San Fernando Valley and Verdugo Mountains regions of Los Angeles County, California California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents ac ...

. He was generally remembered as 'a cheerful, convivial gentleman'. His son Douglas Meins (1918–1987) appeared in at least seven Republic and Warner films in the late 1930s and early 1940s; he then served in the U.S. Army Corps during World War II.

Selected filmography

Feature films: * '' Babes in Toyland'' (1934), starring

* '' His Exciting Night'' (1939) * '' The Covered Trailer'' (1939) '' ZaSu Pitts/ Thelma Todd'' shorts: *''Sneak Easily'' (1933) *''Asleep in the Feet'' (1933) *''Maids à la Mode '' (1933) *''One Track Minds'' (1933) '' Thelma Todd/ Patsy Kelly'' shorts: * ''

Beauty and the Bus Gus Meins (March 6, 1893 – August 1, 1940), born Gustave Peter Ludwig Luley, was an American film director. He was born in Frankfurt, Germany. Career Meins started out in the 'teens as a cartoonist for the Los Angeles Evening Herald before ...

'' (1933) * ''

Backs to Nature Gus Meins (March 6, 1893 – August 1, 1940), born Gustave Peter Ludwig Luley, was an American film director. He was born in Frankfurt, Germany. Career Meins started out in the 'teens as a cartoonist for the Los Angeles Evening Herald before ...

'' (1933) * ''

Air Fright Gus Meins (March 6, 1893 – August 1, 1940), born Gustave Peter Ludwig Luley, was an American film director. He was born in Frankfurt, Germany. Career Meins started out in the 'teens as a cartoonist for the Los Angeles Evening Herald before ...

'' (1933) * ''

Babes in the Goods Babes may refer to: __NOTOC__ Arts and entertainment * Babes (band), an American indie pop band * "Babes", a song from the album '' The Inner Me'' by Lala Hsu * ''Babes'' (TV series), an American sitcom (1990–1991) * Babes (website), a pornograp ...

'' (1934) * '' Soup and Fish'' (1934) * ''

Maid in Hollywood Gus Meins (March 6, 1893 – August 1, 1940), born Gustave Peter Ludwig Luley, was an American film director. He was born in Frankfurt, Germany. Career Meins started out in the 'teens as a cartoonist for the Los Angeles Evening Herald before ...

'' (1934) * ''

I'll Be Suing You Gus Meins (March 6, 1893 – August 1, 1940), born Gustave Peter Ludwig Luley, was an American film director. He was born in Frankfurt, Germany. Career Meins started out in the 'teens as a cartoonist for the Los Angeles Evening Herald before ...

'' (1934) * ''

Three Chumps Ahead Gus Meins (March 6, 1893 – August 1, 1940), born Gustave Peter Ludwig Luley, was an American film director. He was born in Frankfurt, Germany. Career Meins started out in the 'teens as a cartoonist for the Los Angeles Evening Herald before ...

'' (1934) * ''

One-Horse Farmers Gus Meins (March 6, 1893 – August 1, 1940), born Gustave Peter Ludwig Luley, was an American film director. He was born in Frankfurt, Germany. Career Meins started out in the 'teens as a cartoonist for the Los Angeles Evening Herald before ...

'' (1934) * '' Done In Oil'' (1934) * ''

An All-American Toothache ''An All-American Toothache'' is a 1936 American comedy short released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, produced by Hal Roach and directed by Gus Meins, and starring Thelma Todd and Patsy Kelly. It is the 21st and last entry in the Todd and Kelly seri ...

'' (1936) * ''

Hill-Tillies Gus Meins (March 6, 1893 – August 1, 1940), born Gustave Peter Ludwig Luley, was an American film director. He was born in Frankfurt, Germany. Career Meins started out in the 'teens as a cartoonist for the Los Angeles Evening Herald befo ...

'' (1936) ''

'' shorts: * ''

Second Childhood ''Second Childhood'' is the second album by the singer and songwriter Phoebe Snow, released in 1976. ''Second Childhood'' was certified gold by the RIAA on July 9, 1976. Reception In a retrospective review for AllMusic, critic William Ruhlmann ...

'' (

1936 Events January–February * January 20 – George V of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India, dies at his Sandringham Estate. The Prince of Wales succeeds to the throne of the United Kingdom as King E ...

) * '' The Lucky Corner'' (1936) * '' Our Gang Follies of 1936'' (

1935 Events January * January 7 – Italian premier Benito Mussolini and French Foreign Minister Pierre Laval conclude an agreement, in which each power agrees not to oppose the other's colonial claims. * January 12 – Amelia Earhart bec ...

) * ''

Little Sinner ''Little Sinner'' is a 1935 ''Our Gang'' short comedy film directed by Gus Meins. It was the 139th ''Our Gang'' short to be released, and the first appearance of two-year old Porky. Plot Anxious to go fishing, Spanky skips out of Sunday school, d ...

'' (1935) * ''

Little Papa ''Little Papa'' is a 1935 ''Our Gang'' short comedy film directed by Gus Meins. It was the 138th ''Our Gang'' short that was released. Plot Although Spanky would like to play football with the rest of the gang, he is stuck at home taking care of ...

'' (1935) * ''

Sprucin' Up ''Sprucin' Up'' is a 1935 ''Our Gang'' short comedy film directed by Gus Meins. It was the 137th ''Our Gang'' short that was released. Plot Hoping to get on the good side of the new truant officer ( Dick Elliott), the gang goes out of their w ...

'' (1935) * '' Teacher's Beau'' (1935) * '' Beginner's Luck'' (1935) * '' Anniversary Trouble'' (1935) * '' Shrimps for a Day'' (

1934 Events January–February * January 1 – The International Telecommunication Union, a specialist agency of the League of Nations, is established. * January 15 – The 8.0 Nepal–Bihar earthquake strikes Nepal and Bihar with a max ...

) * '' Mama's Little Pirate'' (1934) * ''

Mike Fright Mike may refer to: Animals * Mike (cat), cat and guardian of the British Museum * Mike the Headless Chicken, chicken that lived for 18 months after his head had been cut off * Mike (chimpanzee), a chimpanzee featured in several books and documenta ...

'' (1934) * ''

Honky Donkey ''Honky Donkey'' is a 1934 '' Our Gang'' short comedy film directed by Gus Meins. It was the 129th (41st talking episode) ''Our Gang'' short. It was partially filmed at the Culver Hotel. Plot A pampered rich boy named Wally is shown gettin spoi ...

'' (1934) * '' The First Round-Up'' (1934) * '' For Pete's Sake!'' (1934) * '' Hi'-Neighbor!'' (1934)

References

External links

* *
Life, films and death of Gus Meins
1893 births 1940 suicides American film directors Suicides by carbon monoxide poisoning Suicides in California Burials at Grand View Memorial Park Cemetery 1940 deaths German emigrants to the United States {{US-film-director-1890s-stub